Candace is interviewed by Ruben Edvin Nysether of Norway's Radio Sentrum program. Click here to hear the entire interview in Windows Media format.

February 2003

Germany's Radio Euroherz presenter Doc Schulze:

"At the "Country Music Messe 2003" in Berlin, I heard Candace Asher for
the first time. I was not only impressed but really overwhelmed by her stage performance, her voice and
especially the way she made me feel what she was singing about. And not only me ! A look around showed me that everybody-really everybody- in the audience felt like me.

Candace Asher is not only a gifted songwritwer, but also a great singer
with the "right" country voice. I'm sure that was not the last to be heard of Candace Asher. She'll make her way & will leave her marks in Country Music! So if Candace Asher comes to your town, don't miss her concert. You for sure won't be dissapointed -and later on you can tell you heard & knew her when it all started."

Doc Schulze, "Country Time"
Radio EUROHERZ, Germany

June - October 2002

Press from the latest European tour is available on the newly added media page.

Listening to this record for the first time, the outstanding
voice of this artist made me sit up and take notice. Powerful, with an
occasional tremolo, her voice captures the listeners‘ attention.
Candace Asher is a singer, a songwriter and a guitarist.

Candace Asher sings songs of self-confidence, songs that do not
fit into the chick singer stereotype, but describe the life of a
self-confident woman. That feeling dominates the song "A
Face in the Crowd". Also in the song "I’m Looking Forward", she testifies that
one must go on, even when it seems difficult. The music of Candace is expressive and honest. Besides her sense of melody, she brings Mary Chapin Carpenter to mind with her
almost acoustic sound in "At the Hands of a Man" and her rocking sound in "Something in Me".

There is a lot of variety on this production. These terrific songs and
good voice, will make you want to listen often. For country traditionalists, only a conditional recommendation, because some of her music leans towards the folk direction, while some leans towards pop. All the same, it is very pleasant to listen to!

Candace Asher - a name that sounds familiar? Not yet? But surely it will
be in the near future! With TAXIM'S release of this Nashville artist’s
independently produced debut CD, a new genre star is born. The album
confronts the deluge of cookie-cutter and image-heavy country acts with
something remarkable: substance, personal and artistic integrity, and a
collection of touching and uplifting songs about the realities of life.
"CANDACE ASHER" presents music that is shaped and fashioned with a lot
of expertise and craft - 11 songs by a female artist who has no interest
at all in the Barbie-doll aesthetics and fake emotions presented by many
mainstream country acts. Candace Asher basically asks for your attention
with some old-fashioned - artistic and personal - quality. Here’s what
folk icon Richie Havens has to say about Candace: "Watch out for her - I
have watched Candace grow into an incredibly dedicated and talented
singer/songwriter."

Just like Richie Havens, singer, songwriter and guitar-player Candace
Asher hails from the state of New York - from the Catskills, to be
precise. Maybe this kind of rural upbringing with a more liberal social
background explains her closeness to what could be termed the more
"enlightened" side of country music. Just listen to how "CANDACE ASHER"
combines elements that might not be considered compatible anymore by the
more conservative strategists of the country music world: a voice with
country inflections and the attitude of a strong and self-assured woman
and author. An artist who’s not at all closed towards pop influences,
but whose tastes are sophisticated and marked by a sense of honesty,
craft and quality.

This puts Candace Asher in a fine line with some of her idols and
contemporaries: Rosanne Cash, Kathy Mattea, Kim Richey and Mary-Chapin
Carpenter. Especially Mary-Chapin Carpenter's more rocking and "uptempo"
side seems to have been an influence on these 11 songs. Candace does not
claim to be an innovator, but all of her songs have a core that is
authentic and passionate - something that the Nashville country
establishment does not seem to care a great deal for these days. Buzz
McClain from the Washington Post puts it this way: "Candace brings to
her music the authenticity lacking in most - heck - all of today’s
country pop. She sings from somewhere most of us refuse to acknowledge,
or have covered over to keep from feeling. There’s stark honesty here,
gliding on velvety melodies that catch the ear and warm the soul. She’s
put her heart in it, and in doing so, touches yours." A quote that
speaks for itself.

In the late 1980s Candace Asher - inspired by the early work of Joni
Mitchell - went to New York City and became a part of the city’s club
scene. That’s how she connected with Richie Havens. Some of her early
songs received solid airplay on some folk and country stations in NYC,
but in the mid-90s Candace decided to move to Nashville. Not an unusual
step for an up-and-coming singer and songwriter with country pop
leanings from the Northeast. But the timing was not perfect. The assault
on the rootsy side of country pop by the Nashville establishment had
already begun.

But Candace Asher is not the kind of person who gives up easily. She
played the famous "Bluebird Cafe" many times, and she’s a featured
member of various associations from the Nashville music world. The noted
BBC Channel 4 TV program "South Bank Show" even featured Candace next to
Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, Suzy Boguss and Mary-Chapin Carpenter as one
of the most promising and remarkable new female artists from Nashville.
The apt title of the documentary was: "Women in Country Music - Naked
Nashville". Naked would be a good term to describe the emotional world
of Candace Asher when it comes to her music. No falseness or fake
emotions can be detected behind the darker feelings she addresses, such
as wistfulness and nostalgia ("More Than Just A Vase"), anger
("Thankless Children") or pain ("At The Hands Of A Man").

But her real strengths lie in the more upbeat and rocking songs that
features an abundance of elegant and accomplished guitar work. These
arrangements call to mind the work of Mary-Chapin Carpenter’s friends
and alumni John Jennings and Duke Levine. However, Candace's
arrangements come from players who are not as well known in Europe yet:
Clay Mills, Chris Leuzinger, Eric Silver, Danny Parks. In addition to
these collaborations on the musical production front, Candace Asher also
enjoys collaborations with other songwriters. On this album, there are a
number of co-written compostions - especially with David Lindgren.

What really shines through on this album is the fact that despite all
the reflective aspects of her songs, Candace Asher possesses a firmly
optimistic spirit. "I’m Looking Forward" could be the title of her
personal manifesto. It’s a "You’ve-got-to-fight-for-your-happiness" kind
of spirit that runs through "CANDACE ASHER". This attitude does not come
from cool deliberation or calculation. It comes from having lived a bit
of real life. This honesty and her enormous musical talents make up the
fabric these 11 songs are made of.

Candace Asher's songs and their remarkable qualities have been getting
noticed and honored in Europe, the United Kingdom and Australia. Great
tunes like "A Face in the Crowd", "One Tender Tear" and "Slow Dancing"
have received lots of airplay and scored high in the EMS charts
(European Media Services). In Scandinavia, Candace made her European
performing debut at the Storegut/Hovleriet festival in Norway. In
previous years, this festival was headlined by progressive country acts
like Carlene Carter and Rosie Flores.

Candace Asher’s star is clearly on the rise!

October 2001

Reviews in France's Le Cri du Coyote and Country Music Attitude by Bernard Boyat:

English version:
An everlasting myth in French politics has always been that of a third
way, (between a
socialo-communist left and the republican right). Perhaps Candace
Asher's music is that third way between the
Nashville pop sound and Americana? A blending of folk/pop/country/rock,
and at times a bit
60's teen rock as in the very catchy melody of A Face in the Crowd. At
times more Dolly Parton
sounding as in That Old Car, and at times more California folk rock as
in I'm Looking Forward. But
always with a sharp sense of melody and lyrics for example, the bitter
sweet irony of the
aforementioned "A Face in the Crowd" or the tenderness of "Slow
Dancing".
In any case it is a very convincing first album.

Raised in New York City and the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, Candace began her career in the late 1980's working the club circuit in New York City. Candace moved to Nashville in 1993, and began co-writing with many of Nashville's finest songwriters, also becoming a regular act at the legendary Bluebird Café.

This 11 track, self titled album from Candace Asher, a young lady with a strong, distinctive voice and a contemporary country sound, open's up with the excellent, "Every Time Your Heart Breaks," a 4 way co-write with G Haas, T Kline & D Lindgren, in which Candace, straight away endorses that earlier mentioned statement as she sings about finding the strength to carry on after the break up of a relationship..."But then mama brought me comfort, these simple words to ease the pain. She said a garden never grows until it's endured a cold spring rain." The same theme is followed throughout most of the album, with songs like, "A Face In The Crowd,"..(not the Tom Petty song, but a co-write with David Lindgren). in which she tells of putting on a brave face, the self explanatory, "I'm Looking Forward," getting over being abused and mistreated in "At The Hands Of A Man," holding on to memories of a lost love in, "More Than Just A Vase" and "If I Met You Now," while "One Tender Tear," a former hit in the EMS European charts via it's release on the media only Hotdisc, is a song she co-wrote with Terry Vonderheide, for a friend, who Candace says was in a bad relationship. The song says it is possible to cry tears of joy as well as tears of sadness, as she prays her friend will find someone who will care for her, just as her man does.

Other songs on here include a story of leaving home to chase her dreams in "Something In Me," taking time out from today's busy lifestyle's for a little romance in "Slow Dancing" and "That Old Car," in which she remembers an old car in the backyard, that she would retreat to in times of trouble... "If I could just get that old car started, I could drive until the heartache disappeared."

This is very definitely, one of those albums that are best enjoyed when you can sit back and listen to the words. It is an album of short stories in true country tradition, mixed together with a little New York folk influence, to give her a contemporary styling not dissimilar to, artists such as Mary Chapin Carpenter. Candace say's "My songwriting partners and I strive for lyrics that are both entertaining and meaningful. I like to sing songs with messages that are close to my heart," and this album certainly reflects that attitude very well.

Not only is Candace Asher a good singer, but she is also pretty terrific in the songwriting department with some very well crafted songs on here. I have absolutely no doubt that Candace Asher is a star of the future and I predict it won't be long before she is being mentioned in the same breath as the aforementioned Ms Carpenter. - Ray Grundy

September 2001

Review in "Your Gazette", Melbourne Australia by George Peden:

These Ladies Are New Favourites.

Blessed with a sublime voice, an engaging talent, and a good ear for good songs, Alison Krauss returns to centre stage with new music. New Favorite (Rounder) is the 4th album from the talented Krauss and her band, Union Station.

This virtuoso fiddler from Champaign, Illinois, mirrors her hometown name with 13-tracks which are enjoying a public celebration with a Billboard album debut at #3. The band last charted success four years ago with So Long So Wrong.

In addition to her performing responsibilities, Krauss is kept busy as an in-demand record producer (she co-produced this album and has produced several tracks this year for Reba McEntire); in her spare moments she's band leader and the group's main song searcher... oh, and she's also mother to a growing baby boy.

Phew! With such an unforgiving schedule you can easily get the impression she's a tireless, one-woman show. Not so. Her band and their active involvement are important.

"We always have the same mind-set going into the studio," she recently told Country Music International journalist, Alan Cackett. "I'm the material person. I search out 90% of the songs on our records. On the band projects, we sit and talk about each of them until we wear each other out. When you're working with a band you play and record with all the time everybody pushes each other to be better while everyone is their own policeman."

Agreement also comes from Barry Bales, who has said, "The direction that New Favorite goes in really began with So Long So Wrong. Not only the sound and style of the music, but also the way we rehearsed, and how we conducted things in the studio," says Bales. "Creating a Union Station album is truly a group effort, with all members contributing to song selection, vocal and instrumental passages, and the overall sonic colour."

This three-month-in-the-making album has resulted in meaningful collective performances and standout individual artistry. The tender blend of shared voices (Krauss leads on 8 tracks; band buddies Dan and Ron take three and one respectively) produces sounds of uncompromised style.

The CD opens with the telling, Robert Lee Castleman-penned, "Let Me Touch You For A While". Shaping the dark lyrics that say in part, "You're gonna ruin my black mascara/ you're drinkin' whiskey when it should be wine/ you keep lookin' into the mirror/but to me you're lookin' really fine" is Krauss' haunting voice of offered love. The sounds of the lonely Dobro and the richness of the acoustic bass, guitar, and mandolin create a mood that begs, no, compels, a repeat listen.

But then, so does this whole album. The diversity, the elegance, the originality, and the hard-to-hide talent, shine on a perfect whole that is the sum of many talented parts. From the radio-friendly "The Lucky One," to Krauss' personal Favorite "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," to the blazing instrumental "Choctaw Hayride," this album is sure to stimulate the aural senses of fans.

Krauss is at an age (30) where many musical wannabees are only cutting demos, and wearing out shoe leather while pounding Music Row. For Krauss, though, the shawl of a bluegrass diva sits snuggly on her shoulders. Her career is not only a work in progress, but one that has received considerable acknowledgement already.

With a career starting at age five with the taking of classical violin lessons, Krauss by her 12th birthday had won every fiddle contest she entered. By 14 she found a love of bluegrass and joined a local band, Union Station. In 1993 she was the first bluegrass artist in 29 years to be welcomed into the revered, Grand Ole Opry.

Recent applause has been heard for her three-tracks on the million selling soundtrack, "O Brother, Where Art Though?" And, as her Web biography tells, she has also had songs in Twister, Happy Texas, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and others. And if that's not enough industry recognition, her mantelpiece sags under the weight of 10 Grammy Awards bearing her name.

Add to her obvious talent the raw energies of the other band members, including Dan Tyminski, a Union Station member since '94 and the recent singing voice of George Clooney in "O Brother," and the result is, arguably, AKUS best album to date.

The music heard here is smooth and detailed, a lasting reward touching the emotional core of the listener. The result is a completely satisfying album. I'll have to state the obvious - New Favorite has, for me, become what the title suggests.

Meanwhile Candace Asher, a soon-to-be Nashville star, could equally wear the same label. A singer/songwriter of substance, rather than a gal with a guitar, her self-titled 11-tracker on Crazy Wisdom Music is grabbing wholesome reviews. And deservedly so.

Asher's voice is clear and her talent is unpretentious. The delivery of these well-honed gems travels a crystal pathway of smooth sounds -- all edged with the right amount of pathos, empathy and brevity. With a career which has seen the last few years delivering vocal wares to appreciative New York and Nashville club crowds, she is ready to step up to the plate. As a debut disk, this hits hard home runs.

But, before the superlatives are wasted, it's Asher's earthy lyrics and her ability to poke and stroke the frailties of love, life, and everything in between that is drawing the global interest.

The ink used to pen these tunes has dipped deep into a well of mortal experience, and rather than regret, the tunes echo familiarity.

"Every Time Your Heart Breaks" touches the pain of ended romance; however, the despair finds lyrical salvation in the hope for better times - and lovers.

Another standout is the emotive "More Than Just A Vase". Asher paints a touching storyline of a vase holding not only flowers but memories of a lover who gave the gift. Against a backbeat of sparse, but adequate, instrumentation, the imagery shows her songwriting commitment as highlighted in the liner notes.

"I hope these tunes touch and uplift my listeners. They were written and sung for you with love."

Candace Asher succeeds on every level with this album. The rumour has it she will tour Australia next year. I doubt it. Success, and a major recording deal, will have claimed her by then.

The Storegut Festival is a special version of Norway’s annual
Hovleriet
Festival. This year’s 2 day festival will be held on the Storegut
Ferry
on beautiful Lake Tinnoset. The last time they held the festival on
the
ferry was in 1994.

Following in the footsteps of previous festival headliners;
Carlene
Carter, Heather Myles, Duane Jarvis and Rosie Flores, Candace will
have
the rare opportunity to perform her music surrounded by the beauty
of
fjords, mountains and plains in the lake county known as Little
Norway.

Candace's independently produced, self titled CD, released on her
own
label Crazy Wisdom Music, has generated much attention in Europe in
the
last year. Several tracks off the CD have been in the top 20 on
numerous country/americana programs throughout 2001 in Belgium and
the
Netherlands. In the spring of 2001, Candace’s song, ‘A Face in the
Crowd’ ( a track off of her CD) landed on the International Country
Music Association’s (ICMA) premier country compilation, opening
hundreds of doors for Candace on European and Australian radio.
Program
Director Jan Janssen of the prestigious Real Roots Cafe radio show
in
the Netherlands says, "Candace Asher’s debut CD is worth being
carefully listened to. Asher is one of those US girls who puts some
real
life in her music and lyrics. Her CD went to number #1 in our Real
Roots Cafe Hot 20 Charts."

Currently, a second track, ‘One Tender Tear‘, from Candace’s
self-titled CD is getting airplay in Europe and Australia. The song
is
on the award winning Hotdisc country compilation released August
1st.
Serviced to 800 international programs, the feedback coming in
from
programmers this first week is that the song is quite strong.
Stuart
Cameron, the producer and founder of the Hotdisc says, "I was
immediately taken by Candace's song 'One Tender Tear', which I
think is
a winner. This track showcases her strong voice superbly. She is a
quality act." Anne-Lykke Elling, a programmer from Copenhagen
who
first contacted Candace for a promotional copy of her CD after
hearing the ICMA track, ’ A Face in the Crowd’, was not surprised
when
she heard Candace’s "One Tender Tear" on the current Hotdisc
release.
Anne says, "When I got Candace Asher's CD, I fell in love with the
song , 'One Tender Tear'. It was the first song from her album we
played on our radio show. "

Europe is clearly responding to Candace's approach, which is not the
typical cookie cutter sound of much of today’s country. Musically
and
lyrically Candace listens to her own muse. Maybe growing up in New
York
City’s folksier climate, before moving to Nashville has something to
do
with what makes Candace’s music different. Influenced by artists
like
Joni Mitchell, Roseanne Cash, Kathy Mattea and Mary Chapin
Carpenter,
Candace moved to Nashville with high hopes, only to find that by the
time she showed up, image had become more important to label heads
than
substance. But it is clear that appreciators of serious artists are
enjoying Candace’s CD. Buzz McClain of the Washington Post may have
said it best; "Candace brings to her music the authenticity lacking
in
most--heck--all of today's country pop. She sings from somewhere
most of
us refuse to acknowledge or have covered over to keep from feeling."

The good news continues. Candace’s star is clearly on the rise. In
July
she closed a distribution deal with Country-on-Broadway for the
United
Kingdom. In August, she closed a licensing deal with Germany’s Taxim
Records.. 8 countries in Europe will soon carry Candace Asher’s
self-titled CD at retail!

Candace will be touring with her brand new Epiphone Guitar and
Sabine
Tuner, thanks to the sponsorships she just received from both
companies.
She is very busy rehearsing and preparing for her European tour.
Regretfully she will be abroad during Nashville’s second annual
Americana Music Association’s conference. Along with her lead
guitarist
of many years, Tom Wild, Candace is gearing up to rehearse a band of
Norweigan musicians for the Storegut Festival and other club and
radio
apearances in Norway.

Here's the translation:
"In the mid 1990's Candace Asher moved from New York City to Nashville.
She now debuts her self-titled CD full of strong songs that walk a fine
line between country and folk. Asher has an excellent, expressive voice.
She sings soulfully and convincingly to deliver the raw human emotions
she writes about.
Her song topics include everything from loneliness and isolation to
passionate love and comforting hope. Her story songs are plucked from
everyday life.
She navigates these tales with musicians who have as much craftsmanship
as inspiration.
You can find this debut CD in import stores or on the internet."